Armed cops flooded onto flight QR23 at Manchester Airport after a 'joke note' claiming a bomb was hidden on board had been passed to cabin crew

This video shows a stunned passenger describing the surreal moment armed police arrested an alleged bomb hoaxer on his plane.

Qatar Airways flight QR23 was returning to Manchester Airport from Doha when a 'joke note' claiming a bomb was hidden on board was passed to cabin crew.

The pilot was alerted and a full-scale emergency response was triggered. A 47-year-old man from the North West was arrested by armed police when it touched down. Greater Manchester Police said he remains in custody for questioning.

This footage shows a passenger describing the "surreal" moment as armed cops entered the aircraft.

He said: "Once we got close to the airport we were told by the pilot that everyone should stay seated - nobody should move and that the police would come in and inspect the plane.

"And then maybe ten minutes after that the police came in and arrested the man and then maybe ten minutes after that they came back and said it's fine - go three rows at a time."

The passenger said the arrested man was "very compliant" for the police when they told him to put his hands on his head.

One eyewitness, who watched the RAF escort from the ground, said: "I saw the fighter jet come from nowhere on the heels of the passenger plane. It seemed really close and was incredibly noisy. I thought it was going to hit the plane. It was circling so close."

Pictures showed the suspect being led down the plane's stairs, his arms behind his back, accompanied by at least two armed police officers.

Cops still scoured the aircraft as a matter of precaution and passengers' luggage was searched as officials took no chances about the bomb threat.

The threat led to Manchester Airport being placed on temporary lockdown as other incoming flights were diverted to neighbouring airports.

Nine incoming flights had to be re-routed, with five of these landing at Leeds Bradford airport and others at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Qatar Airways said: "Qatar Airways can confirm that flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester, an Airbus A330-300, landed safely at Manchester Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 1315.

"There were 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board.

"The crew on-board had received a threat about a possible device on board and Qatar Airways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.

"The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority."

An RAF spokesman said: "We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance.

"The aircraft was escorted to Manchester where it landed safely. This incident is now being handled by the civilian authorities."